Pro tips for settling in after a move to the Boston area

Late summer and early fall can be one of the busiest times for relocations to the Boston area. Here are some things to make the big move that much easier.

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• First of all, here are some easily remembered rules for how to tell people where you’re from—given that the Boston region is an amalgam of dozens of municipalities stretching over much of eastern Massachusetts and even some of southern New Hampshire, depending on who’s drawing the boundaries.

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• If you’re into bikes or biking—either for leisure or for commuting (or for both)—here’s a handy, up-to-date guide on the region’s bike-shares. They include conventional ones and newer dockless programs. Note: As of yet, the Boston area does not have a scooter-share. Bonus: Here are 10 routes for beginner bikers in the Boston region.

• Maybe hiking’s your thing? Here’s a guide to great hiking routes in and around Boston.
• Or maybe you just fancy a stroll? These walking routes provide not only some respite but some great scenery and greenery too.

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• Sooner or later, you’ll encounter the region’s mass transit system (a.k.a. the T). Here are the pros and cons of its subway lines and why the T in general struggles and struggles.
• As for vehicular traffic, it’s some of the worst in the country and here’s why. Your best bet is to try to mitigate it by living nearer to your workplace, or by taking that mass transit.
• Now we come to the biggie: Finding a place in the Boston region. This analysis tells tenants what they can afford in terms of rent vs. income. So does this one. If you’re looking for that rare bird in the Boston area—a deal on rent—start in these six neighborhoods.

• As far as buying a home, this gives you a handle on asking prices by neighborhood, and this explains why those prices are generally so darn high.
• Here’s a map of 19 top furniture and home-decor stores in the Boston area for finding stuff—on most any budget—to fill that new apartment, condo, or house.
• You’re new to the region. Here are options for diving right into the granular attractions of your new home, including institutional attractions and parks. Speaking of parks, here’s a guide to the “hidden gems” of Boston Common, the Public Garden, and the Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy Greenway, probably the most prominent greenswards in downtown Boston.
• Another clip-n-save: A map of 23 fantastic things to do in the Boston area with kids.

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• And, if it all gets a little overwhelming at times, consult this. It’s a map of where to cry in public.